Prologue To "The King And Queen."[1]

UPON THE UNION OF THE TWO COMPANIES IN 1686.


        Since faction ebbs, and rogues grow out of fashion,
        Their penny scribes take care to inform the nation,
        How well men thrive in this or that plantation:

        How Pennsylvania's air agrees with Quakers,
        And Carolina's with Associators:
        Both even too good for madmen and for traitors.

        Truth is, our land with saints is so run o'er,
        And every age produces such a store,
        That now there's need of two New-Englands more.

        What's this, you'll say, to us and our vocation?
        Only thus much, that we have left our station,
        And made this theatre our new plantation.

        The factious natives never could agree;
        But aiming, as they call'd it, to be free,
        Those playhouse Whigs set up for property.

        Some say, they no obedience paid of late;
        But would new fears and jealousies create;
        Till topsy-turvy they had turn'd the state.

        Plain sense, without the talent of foretelling,
        Might guess 'twould end in downright knocks and quelling:
        For seldom comes there better of rebelling.

        When men will, needlessly, their freedom barter
        For lawless power, sometimes they catch a Tartar;
        There's a damn'd word that rhymes to this call'd Charter.

    But, since the victory with us remains,
        You shall be call'd to twelve in all our gains;
        If you'll not think us saucy for our pains.

    Old men shall have good old plays to delight them
        And you, fair ladies and gallants, that slight them,
        We'll treat with good new plays; if our new wits can write them.

    We'll take no blundering verse, no fustian tumour,
        No dribbling love, from this or that presumer;
        No dull fat fool shamm'd on the stage for humour.

    For, faith, some of them such vile stuff have made,
        As none but fools or fairies ever play'd;
        But 'twas, as shopmen say, to force a trade.

    We've given you tragedies, all sense defying,
        And singing men, in woful metre dying;
        This 'tis when heavy lubbers will be flying.

    All these disasters we well hope to weather;
        We bring you none of our old lumber hither;
        Whig poets and Whig sheriffs may hang together.

John Dryden

John Dryden was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made England’s first Poet Laureate in 1668. His work dominated the literary life of Restoration England and he is seen as a major figure in the literary history of the period. Dryden's notable works include the satirical poem 'Absalom and Achitophel' and the mock-heroic 'Mac Flecknoe.'

John Dryden

To The Pious Memory Of The Accomplished Young Lady Mrs Anne Killigrew,[1] Excellent In The Two Sister Arts Of Poesy And Painting.

John Dryden, Simple Poetry

Prologue To "The Loyal Brother; Or, The Persian Prince;"[1] By Mr Southern, 1682.

John Dryden, Simple Poetry

The Fair Stranger.[1]

John Dryden, Simple Poetry

Prologue[1] To The University Of Oxford, 1681.

John Dryden, Simple Poetry

English

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Prologue To "Albion And Albanius."

    Full twenty years and more, our labouring stage
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Prologue To "King Arthur." Spoken By Mr Betterton.

    Sure there's a dearth of wit in this dull town,
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Parody On The Speech Of Dr. Benjamin Pratt,[1] Provost Of Trinity College To The Prince Of Wales

Illustrious prince, we're come before ye,
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Prologue. Spoken At The Opening Of The New House, March 26, 1674.

    A plain-built^[1] house, after so long a stay,
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Prologue To "Arvirgus And Philicia Revived."

BY LODOWICK CARLELL, ESQ., 1690.

SPOKEN BY MR HART.


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Epilogue For "The King's House."[1]

    We act by fits and starts, like drowning men,
    But just peep up, and then pop down again.
    Let those who call us wicked change their sense;
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    Not lottery cavaliers are half so poor,
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